Shoring apparatus



Jan. 9, 1968 E. T. 'wARD 3,362,167

SHORING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

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1968 E. T. WARD 3,362,167

r SHORING APPARATUS Filed July 27, v1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

fl/G'A/' r 4/490 AffOFA/EYS United States Patent Ohio Filed July 27, 1965, Ser. No. 475,172 9 Claims. (Cl. 61-41) This invention relates to apparatus for shoring the sides of trenches dug in unstable soils, such as sandy soils.

Heretofore, various hydraulic jack parallelogram arrangements have been used for shoring the sides of such trenches. In one such arrangement, a pair of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced, hydraulic cylinder-and-piston units are connected pivotally at their opposite ends to plate-like shoring rails which extend upright against the opposite sides of the trench. In another type, a pair of horizontally disposed, horizontally spaced, hydraulic cylinder-and-piston units are connected pivotally at their 0pposite ends to horizontal rails which abut against conventional shoring timbers or planks at the opposite sides of the trench. In both types of such apparatus, the cylinderand-piston units are cross braces extending across the trench. After the parallelogram is inserted between the sides of the trench hydraulic liquid is pumped into the cylinders to force the respective pistons to extended posi tions until the side rails are jacked apart to the desired extent.

In the use of such hydraulic jack parallelograms, the width of the trench may be greater than that of the cylinder-and-piston cross braces with the pistons fully extended. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to provide for each cylinder-and-p-iston unit an extension adaptor to increase the width of the parallelogram across the trench. One aspect of the present invention is concerned with a novel and improved extension adaptor for this purpose.

Another aspect of this invention, which may be used either in combination with the extension adaptor or on parallelogram cylinder-and-piston cross braces which do not have the extension adaptor, is directed to a novel oversleeve for each cylinder-and-piston cross brace. This oversleeve takes bending loads transmitted to the respective cylinder-and-piston cross brace. Also, it protects the cross brace from damage due to being climbed on by workmen or being struck by tools, rocks or other extraneous objects when the parallelogram jack is in place in the trench.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hydraulic jack parallelogram shoring apparatus having a novel and improved extension adaptor for increasing its effective width.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus having an extension adaptor of improved strength which is suitable for providing a longer extension of each cross brace than was feasible heretofore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic jack parallelogram shoring apparatus having a novel oversleeve on each cy1inder-andpiston cross brace for taking bending stresses imparted to that cross brace and for protecting the cross brace from damage by extraneous objects.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of two presently-preferred embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away for clarity, showing in position in a trench a hydraulic jack parallelogram of the type having vertical shoring rails for engaging the sides of the trench and having on each cylinder-and-piston cross brace both an extension adaptor and a protective oversleeve in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away for clarity, showing the upper cylinder-andpiston cross brace in FIG. 1 and the respective hinge plates at its opposite ends;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing part of this cylinder-andpiston cross brace;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the remainder of this cylinder-and-piston cross brace;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a hydraulic jack parallelogram of a different type, having opposite horizontal side rails for engagement with shoring planks in a trench, and having on each cylinder-and-piston cross brace both an extension adaptor and a protective oversleeve in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5 through one of the cylinder-and-piston cross braces in this jack.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the hydraulic jack parallelogram comprises a pair of vertically extending shoring rails or plates 10, 11 which abut against the opposite sides of the trench. Shoring rail 10 pivotally supports a pair of vertically spaced hinge blocks 12 and 13, which rigidly engage the cylinders 14 and 15 of respective upper and lower cylinder-and-piston cross braces. The upper hinge block 12 has fitting 16 for connection to a hose 17 which delivers hydraulic liquid from a pump (not shown). The upper hinge block 12 has internal passages connecting this fitting to the interior of the respective cylinder 14, as well as to a hose 18 leading to an inlet opening 19 in the lower hinge block 13. The lower hinge block has internal passages connecting this inlet opening 19 to the interior of the cylinder 15.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper hinge block 12 has a screw-threaded opening 20 which threadedly receives the left end of cylinder 14. A piston 21 is slidably disposed in cylinder 14 and it carries an elongated hollow piston rod 22 which extends to the right in FIGS. 2 and 3, away from the hinge block 12. At its right end the cylinder 14 carries a flanged bushing 23 which slidably receives the piston rod 22.

Close to its right end the piston rod 22 has cross openings 24 adapted to snugly receive a connecting pin 25.

The opposite shoring rail 11 pivotally supports an upper hinge block 26 and a lower hinge block, which is hidden in FIG. 1. This upper hinge block 26 has a screwthreaded opening 27 (FIG. 4) which threadedly receives a cylindrical collar 28, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Toward its left end in FIGS. 3 and 4, this collar has cross openings 29 for receiving a connecting pin. The inside diameter of collar 28 is substantially equal to the outside diameter of piston rod 22, plus a slight clearance.

Where the maximum width of this hydraulic jack parallelogram is greater than the width of the trench, the piston rod 22 is inserted into collar 28 and is fastened thereto by inserting pin 25 into the registering cross openings 24 and 29 in the piston rod and collar, respectively.

However, when the width of the trench is greater than .the maximum width of the hydraulic jack parallelogram as thus far described, then an extension adaptor, to be described now, is connected between piston rod 22 and collar 28. This extension adaptor comprises a collar 36 and an extension sleeve 31.

Collar 30 has a cylindrical bore 32 (FIG. 3) which snugly, but slidably, receives the piston rod 22. Toward its right end, the collar presents an internal annular shoulder 33 against which the end of piston rod 22 abuts. At its left end, collar 30 has an external annular flange 34 whose outside diameter is equal to the outside diameter of cylinder 14. To the left of this flange, collar 30 has cross openings 35 which are adapted to register with the cross openings 24 in the piston rod to snugly receive the connecting pin 25.

The extension sleeve 31 is cylindrical throughout its extent and it fits snugly over the collar 30 immediately to the right of flange 34 on the latter. The outside diameter of sleeve 31 is equal to the outside diameter of flange 34 and of cylinder 14. The inside diameter of sleeve 31 is such that it has a close sliding fit on the outside of collar 28 at its right end (FIG. 4). Near this end sleeve 31 has cross openings 36/), which are adapted to register with the cross openings 29 in collar 28 and to snugly receive a connecting pin 37. Toward its left end, sleeve 31 has cross openings 36a, which are adapted to register with the cross openings 35 in collar 30 and with the cross openings 24 in piston rod 22.

When this extension adaptor is used, sleeve 31 and collar 30 are connected to the piston rod 22 by first positioning the cross openings 36a in collar 31 and the cross openings 35 in collar 30 in registration with the cross openings 24 in the piston rod and then inserting the connecting pin 25 into these openings, thereby connecting both the collar 30 and the sleeve 31 rigidly to the piston rod and to each other. When thus assembled, the extension sleeve 31, adaptor collar 30 and piston rod 22 all interfit telescopically to provide a high strength joint between these parts.

The opposite (right) end of sleeve 31 is slid over the mounting collar 28, with its cross openings 36b registering with the cross openings 29 in this collar, after which the connecting pin 37 is inserted to connect these parts rigidly to one another.

For different practical applications requiring different lengths of the extension adaptors, a series of dilferent length sleeves 31 may be provided for use individually with the single collar 30.

The extension adaptor for the lower cylinder-and-piston cross brace in this hydraulic jack parallelogram is identical to the one described, and therefore a detailed descripton of this lower extension adaptor will not be given.

To change over from the standard length cylinderandpiston cross brace all that is necessary is to remove the pin connecting the piston rod 22 to the mounting collar 28, and then to connect the extension adaptor of the required length in place, as described.

In addition to being convenient to attach to, or detach from, the respective cylinder-and-piston cross brace, the present extension adaptor has sufiicient strength to enable the provision of longer extensions of the cross brace than was practicable heretofore, and it is relatively inexpensive because of its economical use of materials.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a novel protective oversleeve arrangement is provided on each cylinder-and-piston cross brace. This oversleeve may be provided both where the extension adaptor is not needed and where the extensive adaptor is present.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, this oversleeve is in the form of an elongated cylinder 40 having a length almost as great as the maximum length of the cylinder-and-piston cross brace (plus the extension adaptor, if one is present) between the shoring rails 10, 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the inside diameter of this oversleeve 40 is such that it has a close sliding fit over the cylinder 14, as well as over the adaptor collar flange 34 and the extension sleeve 31 it an extension adaptor is provided.

A generally C-shaped wire clamp 41 is clamped tightly around the outside of cylinder 14 at any desired location along the latter, by means of a threaded bolt 42 (FIG. 3) and a cooperating nut (not shown) which engage the opposite confronting ears 43, 44 at the bottom of the clamp. The clamp has a longitudinally projecting finger 45 at the top which terminates in 21 depending protrusion 46 adapted to be snugly received in a hole 47 in the top of the oversleeve 40. Preferably the clamp 41 is positioned along cylinder 14 so that the oversleeve 40 will extend all the way over to the mounting collar 28 at the opposite side when the piston is fully retracted. Also, the oversleeve 40 surrounds the piston rod 22 over the latters entire length when fully extended. Consequently, under all conditions of use the oversleeve protects the piston rod against damage from workmen climbing on it or from being struck by tools, rocks or other extraneous objects, any of which might disable the cylinder-and-piston cross brace, such as by breaking or bending the piston rod.

Also, the oversleeve 40 takes any bending loads transmitted to the respective cylinder-and-piston cross brace, so that the piston, cylinder, and extension adaptor, if any, are required only to withstand the compression load.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the hydraulic jack parallelogram is intended to reinforce conventional shoring planks or timbers 5t) engaging the opposite sides of the trench. The parallelogram comprises a pair of horizontal shoring rails or plates 51 and 52 for engagement respectively with the shoring planks at the opposite sides of the trench. Shoring rail 51 pivotally supports a pair of horizontally spaced hinge blocks 53, 54, as does the opposite shoring rail 52. The hinge blocks 53, 54 on rail 51 are rigidly connected to respective cylinders 55, 56, preferably by threaded connections as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 14. Suitable fluid supply connections (not shown) are provided for connecting the hinge blocks 53, 54- to a source of hydraulic liquid under pressure and for passing the hydraulic liquid to and from the respective cylinders 55 and 56.

Referring to FIG. 6, cylinder 55 carries a flanged bushing 57 on its end remote from hinge block 53. This bushing slidably passes a piston rod 58 attached to a piston (not shown) which is slidable in cylinder 55.

An extension adaptor, including a collar 59 and an extension sleeve 60, is connected to the piston rod 58 by a connecting pin in the manner already described in detail with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. The opposite end of extension sleeve 60 fits snugly over a collar 62, which is rigidly secured in a hinge block 63 pivotally mounted on the shoring rail 52.

This embodiment of the invention differs from the firstdescribed embodiment in that the oversleeve 64 is fastened to this collar 62 by means of a connecting pin 65 snugly received in registering openings in these two members. The opposite end of the oversleeve 64 slidably receives the cylinder 55 and is not clamped or otherwise attached to this cylinder.

Where, as shown in FIG. 6, the adaptor extension 59, 60 is provided, the extension sleeve 60 presents cross openings for receiving the connecting pin 65 which attaches the oversleeve 64 to collar 62.

Alternatively, however, when the adaptor extension is not required, the piston rod 58 extends into collar 62 with its cross openings positioned to receive the connecting pin 65, which then rigidly interconnects the piston rod 58, the collar 62 and the oversleeve 64. While certain presently-preferred embodiments of this invention have been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanyinug drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of other embodiments and that various modifications which depart from the disclosed embodiments may be adapted without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic jack for shoring the opposite sides of a trench or the like and comprising a pair of opposite shoring rails; a cylinder-and-piston cross brace including a cylinder having a pivotal connection to one shoring rail, a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through the opposite end of the cylinder; a block having a pivotal connection to the opposite shoring rail; and a mounting collar, carried by said block, having an internal bore with a diameter to receive and snugly fit over the outwardly extending end of said piston rod the improvement which comprises:

an extension adaptor for said cylinder-and-piston cross brace including an adaptor collar having a snug sliding fit over the piston rod beyond the cylinder, an extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit at one end over the adaptor collar and having a snug sliding fit at its opposite end over the respective mounting collar, means for detachably connecting both the adaptor collar and the extension sleeve rigidly to the piston rod, and means for detachably connecting the extension sleeve rigidly to the mounting collar.

2. In a hydraulic jack parallelogram for shoring the opposite sides of a trench or the like and comprising a pair of opposite shoring rails; a pair of cylinder-and-piston cross braces, each including a cylinder having a pivotal connection to one shoring rail, a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through the opposite end of the cylinder; and a pair of mounting collars each having a pivotal connection to the opposite shoring rail; the improvement which comprises:

an extension adaptor for each cylinder-and-piston cross brace including an adaptor collar having a snug sliding fit over the piston rod beyond the cylinder, said adaptor collar having an external flange disposed toward the cylinder and having an internal shoulder abutting against the end of the piston rod, an extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit over the adaptor collar and abutting at one end against said external flange on the adaptor collar, said extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit at its opposite end over the respective mounting collar, said piston rod, adaptor collar and extension sleeve having cross open ings which register with each other, a first detachable connecting pin extending through said openings and rigidly connecting both the adaptor collar and the extension sleeve to the piston rod, said extension sleeve and said mounting collar having cross openings which register with each other, and a second detachable connecting pin extending through said last-mentioned openings and rigidly connecting the extension sleeve to the mounting collar.

3. In a hydraulic jack for shoring the opposite sides of a trench or the like and comprising a pair of opposite shoring rails; a cylinder-and-p'iston cross brace including a cylinder having a pivotal connection to one shoring rail, a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through the opposite end of the cylinder; a block and a mounting collar, carried by said block, having an internal bore adapted to receive and snugly fit over the outwardly extending end of said piston rod having a pivotal connection to the opposite shoring rail; the improvement which comprises:

a protective oversleeve for said cylinder-and-piston cross brace, said oversleeve having a snug sliding fit over said cylinder and extending therefrom toward said mounting collar and enclosing said piston rod for the latters full extent beyond the cylinder when the cylinder-and-piston cross brace is fully extended, and means for adjustably connecting said oversleeve on said cylinder.

4. A hydraulic jack parallelogram according to claim 3 in which said adjusting means comprises a clamp adjustable along said cylinder and having provision for releasably connecting said oversleeve rigidly to the cylinder.

5. A hydraulic jack parallelogram according to claim 3 and further comprising means for releasably attaching the oversleeve rigidly to the respective mounting collar.

6. In a hydraulic jack for shoring the opposite sides of a trench or the like and comprising a pair of opposite shoring rails; a cylinder-and-piston cross brace including a cylinder having a pivotal connection to one shoring rail, a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a piston rod con- 6 nected to the piston and extending through the opposite end of the cylinder; a block having a pivotal connection to the opposite shoring rail; and a mounting collar, carried by said block, having an internal bore adapted to receive and snugly fit over the outwardly extending end of said piston rod the improvement which comprises:

an extension adaptor for said cylinder-and-piston cross brace including a flanged adaptor collar having a snug sliding fit over the piston rod beyond the cylinder, the outside diameter of said flange being substantially equal to the outside diameter of said cylinder, an extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit at one end over the adaptor collar and having a snug sliding fit at its opposite end over the respective mounting collar, the outside diameter of said sleeve being substantially equal to the outside diameter of said flange, means for detacha-bly connecting both the adaptor collar and the extension sleeve rigidly to the piston rod, and means for detacha-bly connecting the extension sleeve rigidly to the mounting collar;

and a protective oversleeve for each cylinder-andpiston cross brace, said oversleeve having a snug sliding fit over said cylinder and extending therefrom over and snugly fitting said adaptor collar and extension sleeve, said oversleeve enclosing said piston rod for the latters full extent beyond the cylinder when the cylinder-and-piston cross brace is fully extended.

7. In a hydraulic jack parallelogram for shoring the opposite sides of a trench or the like and comprising a pair of opposite shoring rails; a pair of cylinder-andpiston cross braces, each including a cylinder having a pivotal connection to one shoring rail, a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through the opposite end of the cylinder; and a pair of mounting collars each having a pivotal connection to the opposite shoring rail; the improvement which comprises:

an extension adaptor for each cylinder-and-piston cross brace including an adaptor having a snug sliding fit over the piston rod beyond the cylinder, said adaptor collar having an external flange disposed toward the cylinder and having an internal shoulder abutting against the end of the piston rod, an extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit over the adaptor collar and abutting at one end against said external flange on the adaptor collar, said extension sleeve having an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cylinder, said extension sleeve having a snug sliding fit at its opposite end over the respective mounting collar, said piston rod, adaptor collar and extension sleeve having cross openings which register with each other, a first detachable connecting pin extending through said openings and rigidly connecting both the adaptor collar and the extension sleeve to the piston rod, said extension sleeve and said mounting collar having cross openings which register with each other, and a second detachable connecting pin extending through said last-mentioned openings and rigidly connecting the extension sleeve to the mounting collar;

and a protective oversleeve for each cylinder-and-piston cross brace, said oversleeve having a snug sliding fit over the cylinder and over the extension sleeve, said oversleeve extending from the cylinder over the adaptor collar and the extension sleeve, said oversleeve enclosing the piston rod for the latters full extent beyond the cylinder when the cylinderand-piston cross brace is fully extended.

8. A hydraulic jack parallelogram according to claim 7 and further comprising a clamp adjustable along said cylinder and having provision for releasably connecting said oversleeve rigidly to the cylinder.

9. A hydraulic jack parallelogram according to claim 7 and further comprising means for releasably attaching the overslecve rigidly to the respective mounting collar.

References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1882 Coats et al 61-41 x 7/1929 Beckley et a1. 248-357 8/1952 Eek 248356 x 9/1959 Jennings 285-303 X 10 8 3,110,506 11/1963 OBrien 248356 X 3,224,201 12/1965 Brunton 6141 FOREIGN PATENTS 350,933 1/1961 Switzerland.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

ROBERT P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC JACK FOR SHORING THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A TRENCH OR THE LIKE AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SHORING RAILS; A CYLINDER-AND-PISTON CROSS BRACE INCLUDING A CYLINDER HAVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO ONE SHORING RAIL, A PISTON SLIDABLE IN SAID CYLINDER, AND A PISTON ROD CONNECTED TO THE PISTON AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPPOSITE END OF THE CYLINDER; A BLOCK HAVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO THE OPPOSITE SHORING RAIL; AND A MOUNTING COLLAR, CARRIED BY SAID BLOCK, HAVING AN INTERNAL BORE WITH A DIAMETER TO RECEIVE AND SNUGLY FIT OVER THE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING END OF SAID PISTON ROD THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: AN EXTENSION ADAPTOR SAID CYLINDER-AND-PISTON CROSS BRACE INCLUDING AN ADAPTOR COLLAR HAVING A SNUG SLIDING FIT OVER THE PISTON ROD BEYOND THE CYLINDER, THE EXTENSION SLEEVE HAVING A SNUG SLIDING FIT AT ONE END OVER THE ADAPTOR COLLAR AND HAVING A SNUG SLIDING FIT AT ITS OPPOSITE END OVER THE RESPECTIVE MOUNTING COLLAR, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING BOTH THE ADAPTOR COLLAR AND THE EXTENSION SLEEVE RIGIDLY TO THE PISTON ROD, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE EXTENSION SLEEVE RIGIDLY TO THE MOUNTING COLLAR. 